Orinda City Hall

Orinda, California

Orinda’s new City Hall showcases the City’s commitment to civic buildings that strengthen the community fabric and protect the environment and provides a much-needed home for City staff. The covered outdoor lobby brings nature into the heart of the building, providing significant community gathering space and linking residential areas above the site to the village and civic center below.

The building balances daylighting with heat gain, integrates natural and mechanical ventilation, makes the most of ground-coupled thermal mass, combines good shading with a high performance building envelope, and provides a high measure of occupant control. By so doing, reliance on lighting and mechanical systems is minimized and the building is expected to surpass California energy standards by more than 72%.